A socialist voice? Yes! Bigotry? No!

Dear comrades,

The Workers Party is absolutely right that we need a socialist voice in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election against all the mainstream parties, including Labour and the Greens. On the Greens in particular, the Workers Party has correctly argued that this is a liberal outfit, supporting the war in Ukraine and the EU, and not an alternative for the working class, who despise Labour.

However, the Workers Party cannot be a socialist and working-class voice so long as its campaign makes crass and bigoted attacks on trans people. Such positions echo the politics of reactionaries and enemies of socialism while totally undermining the Workers Party’s challenge to Labour and the Greens. The precondition for us and any other decent socialists to support the Workers Party in Holborn and St Pancras must be an end to this pandering to right-wing reaction.

It is one thing for someone to hold socially conservative views and disagree with gender theories. But it is quite another for a self-proclaimed socialist to seek political capital by constantly attacking trans people, one of the most marginalised groups in Britain and (together with Muslims) the favourite target of reactionaries. Such politics only position the Workers Party as a transmission belt for political reaction, which is ultimately directed against Muslims, women, LGBTQ+ people and the working class.

The goal of socialists must be to unite the working class against the ruling class. But the precondition for this is to stand in defence of all oppressed groups. Just as we defend Muslims and oppose attacks against their right to wear religious symbols, so must we defend the right of trans people to live their lives the way they want.

If you agree to cease making cheap political capital on the back of trans people, we would be happy to support you in your campaign.

Socialist greetings,

The Spartacist League

PS: The following article outlines how, against the treachery of liberals, communists can fight for both trans liberation and working-class emancipation: “Transgender Liberation: Liberal Betrayal, Marxist Answers”, Women and Revolution No. 46, February 2025.